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US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez beats French gold medalist, quiets raucous crowd
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- US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez beats French gold medalist, quiets raucous crowd
Editor's note: Follow the latest Olympics live results, medal count and updates for Saturday, July 27.
PARIS – The rumbling has begun at the Paris Olympics, and round one between the United States and France goes to the Americans.
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Jajaira Gonzalez of the United States defeated France's Estelle Mossely, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Saturday night in the opening round of the boxing tournament.
"This might sound a little cocky, but I don't fear anybody,'' said Gonzalez, 27, who is making her Olympic debut. "I don't care what they've won, what they've done. I just like to think that I'm the best. And, yeah, they may have won this or that, but I'm here now.''
Not only did Gonzalez outpunch Mossely during their three-round bout, but she also quieted a raucous crowd that spent much of the bout chanting, singing, clapping and booing.
U.S. boxer Jajaira Gonzalez celebrates after beating France's Estelle Mossely.
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They booed Gonzalez when she entered North Paris Arena for the fight and they booed the outcome of a bout fought at 60 kg (about 132 pounds).
Gonzalez won the fight by split decision on points over Mossely, who is 11-0-1 as a pro but returned to the amateur ranks in a quest for more Olympic gold.
"As soon as I heard the crowd booing me, it really turned me up,'' Gonzalez said. "In other words, it really motivated me. … I was just having fun. That's why I think I looked over at the crowd and I smiled. I really wanted to blow a kiss.''
Instead, she settled for delivering punches that helped get the rumbling off to a rousing start.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US boxer Jajaira Gonzalez beats France's Estelle Mossely
